Vehicle propelling mechanism



May 19, 1925. 1,538,554

J. HOLTZMAN VEHI CLE PROPELLING MECHANI SM Filed N'ov'l 10, r 1921 3Sheets-Sheet 1 May 19, 1925.

J.HOLTZMAN VEHICLE PROPELLI NG MECHANISM 3 SheetsfSheet 2 Filed Nov. l0,1921 .IBUL

May 19, 1925. 1,538,554 J. HOLTZMAN VEHICLE PROFELLING MECHANI SM FiledNov. 10, 192], 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES y e N1,538,554 APATENT OFFICE.

JOHN noL'rziviAN, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

VEHICLE raorELLING iuncHANisivr.

Application'led November 10, 192,1.',Seria1 N'o. 514,213.

To all fui/2mn, it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN l-loLTZMAN, a citizen of the United States,`and a resident ot `New York, in the county. and `State ot New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle PropellingMechanism, of which the following is a specicationi y V The principalpurpose ot `'this invention is to provide means for iinpellingvehicles*- ot' self contained type by a lgliding movement over aslippery or unstable suritace,v

utilizing the power transmitted tothe driving wheels of the vehicle toactuate the ini-- nature, simple to apply and koperate and moderate incost of construction.

These and analogous objects are-attained by the novel design7construction and arrangement ot parts hereinafter described and showninthe accompanying drawings, forming a material part ot this disclosure,which Figure 'l is a side elevational view of a conventional typebicycleshowing the application ot the invention, parts being broken away toshow the construction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken through thetrontfrunner ou line Q---Q ot Figure l..

Figure 3 is a similar View ot the rear runner taken online 23H3 otFigure l.y

Figure 4 is an enlarged lraginentaryside and sectional view ot theautomatically ad-V justable transmission drive device, the section beingtaken substantially on line'4-4 of Figure 7. i Y

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5 5 of' Figure 4.'i 1 Figure G is a similar view taken on line 6 6 ot Figure'4. i A

Figure 7 .is a plan view of the rear shoe :is shown in Figure l. v

. Figure S isa similar view of the front shoe. Y

Figure 9 is a side elevational view ot aV modified torni of lfrontrunner and wheel guard combined.

and in Figure 'l0 is a view similar to- Figure l illustrating ainodilied torni of the driving "device as applied'to an automobile, themechanis'm` being partially shown in section; e

Figure ll is a longitudinal sectional view showing details ofconstruction.

Figure 'l2 is a side view of a bicycle as used .to propel a boat, thelatter being shown.

in section.

Figure-'i3 is a fragmentary. vside view` .showing afnio'ditied `form ofdriving mechanism r`as engagedwith a bicycle.

Figure 14 a rearelevational view ofthe same. l y s Figure l5 is a sideelevational view of an alternative type of runner drive Ias used onsnow, parts being broken away toshow the construction. 'i Figure 1,6 isahorizontal sectional view taken on line lG--lG of Figure l5.

Referring to the drawings indetail, particularly Figures 1, k12 and"y13," thenumeral bicycle, tlie same supporting a seat 26 ad- .25'designates in. general the frame of ka acent the handle bars 27 bywhich the front.

forks 28 are controlled. i t

Pedals 29` aetuate the sprocket 30 over which is traineda chair 31conveying rotary motion -to the driving sprocket 32, oii'the. reark axle83, 'alongsidethe rear driving wheel 34, both being mounted forks ot theframe. `r kv y n The front shoe (see Figures l, Zand 8) is 36 carriedbythe front 'oi5`s-l8 land is steered inthe usual manuel-by manipulatingthe handle bars 27, the construction being ot common type throughout,forming no partofthe invention but used to illustrate its application. ey y The lfront shoetsee Figures l, 2 and 8) composed ot a pair of spacedside plates 40, connected. atthe' back 41 and along the level bottom 42which merges into an upturiied arcuate front 43 extending to about rthebetween the rear height of the center of the wheel which the shoeencases.

A central angular depression l44 istormed stiften the same.

lin the front and bottom elements acting to A. lug 45 is lixedin thetront-elemeiit Cil held lirinly therein by meansvv of strap-like i,projectionsaltl extending integrally upv trom the side plates L andprovided with openings to receive the extending ends o't the airle 3G,the same beingheld by the nuts usually provided. v

In `Figure 9 ainoditication of' the front shoe is shown that more.completelyenclose-s the wheel and protects its entire periphery; itisalso` constructed jinsucli manner thatit can li'enreadily applied orlremoved without intertering` with/thel axle.

This structure coinprsesua; pair oit side-f plates $50. connected; vinspaced relation by iront, rear and. bottom plates` andispiof. videdwithan ugtuirned rear extensionbl ot the bottom plate. Y K

= The curved raised portions oit theside platesextend ina plane aboutequal with theivheel center and-oii'tliefizoiit andl rear .plates aretorinedllugs 52 and 58, actingas:`

hinge niemb erst to piio'tally unite the, upper ,uuard casing elements54 and .55, having,A

lateral. lugs G- and57,1 through which,` pass f clamp bolts 58.A A

Journalled between theiside plates and `guards 511 and 55 are aplurality,offrollers` 59, their faces beiiigconcaved to suitthe wheelagainst which they4 aredrawn by the clamp bolts 5,81 to any: desiredextent.

y The-preferred'type of rear shoe is shownv in Figures 1,8 and 7'andlilefthe front shoe, consists off ay pairot-` sidei, plates connectedbyu-front runner platel', merging into the main or bottommember/SQfupturned at the` theside plates and. liaviiigsecured on oiieiend a spur-pinion l rlhf-ese rollers. are adaptedto receive the tire otthe wheel 34, and as the latter is; caused to rotate by thedriving',mechanism i of kthe vehicle, the rollers` will also revolve anddrive thepinion 69. y

Another spindle v is jounnalled/ in, the.

casing sides 60, itsextending. end` haring;- securedto; it ay spur gear71; in, meshi with., the pinion 69 and a worm `72 is if'iirechornthe`spindlel between; the forks of a; yoke, 73 whichare` rotatable on the ispindle.,4

' Rotatably mounted on the yolre, longitu-t dinally of. thev shoe,.,is ashaft 7K1'. having' keyed to woringear 75 operatively engagedg by the.worin 72.

rit the inner end o the shaft is a-.tor-f:

r76 in which. is rotatably inounteda, discvor engaging a slot-78ltorinedin the.

roller 77 Curved iace et a raised projecting guide 'ther-shaft: 82,irrespective of... sliggl formed with-` the side plates,

`plz-rte 7.9.oft the` slice 62the face. and `slot beingcurvedto` aradiushayingfits axis at the center of the shaft spindle 70.

rThus dueto the mounting oitl the yoke and arcuate guiding of the shat'troller, the shaftmay betiltedfroin a horizontal plane as becomesnecessary in its operation.

Formed in ythehead 8l is ay recess 83,A

having` angularly inclined, walls which are open to the seat recess andare adapted-to, receizve af hardened steelA ball 84,y iinpingiiig on thesurface of'. the, sphere 8() inx such manner as toaact as a clutch vandnormallyy transmit rotaryinotion from the shatt, ,74 'to differ.- cncesin 1 the direction of., 'theirI axialfj planes.

lll

Secured to the shaft 82, between the headi 81* andi fan-,outboardsupport 85, isk anz elongatedi sleeve; 86,Y having; on its periphery' aplurality of` relatively thin helicall vanes 87,

theirl outer edges beingL normally` in v the.

planeoatthe glide plateior runner 62.

The,` outboardsupport 85 is carried by-a.

curvedl arm, 88 extendingtroni a traine- 89,`

haring' on itsupper surface a stud; 90- slid-V able,- in a-, verticaltubularf socketI 91` and'. n

normally pressed downfnby aqcoiled coinL pressionspring contained inthev upper partici` the socket.;

The shoe side p'lates() are extendedrean. wardly and, together. withvtop. and? bottom; casingL plates,I .engage and'. support the socket91.'v

Pairs of' side` lugs; 93 extend downtroni the;endsot-'thelframe 89r andcarry between thein sprockets 94; overv which is trained an endlesschain 95, havingfixed a, plurality ot bruslntufts 9(textend'ingin suchmanner as to engage the helicalbladcs 87 and by them rthe chain isdriven, the movement o'tithel brushessweeping the spaces between theblades free of any. accumulations'.

Thusinioperfatinc' the vehiclein snow the propellen, comprised of theblades, being frictiionally driven by-tlierear wheehis free toinoveiliinitedly up and down vandriskept-v in a clean effectiveoperating condition.

In Figure 13, a inodiication is showngi'n which the rear drivingwheel-34 isinounted directly. over4r the propellenthe uf'eig'htot thevehicle aiding in obtaining` atractiveeiiect. lnfthis device a casing',generally designated 100, is 'formed otsidefplates subf stantiallyclosedat the front, rear and bottoni, the side plates having betweenthem rollers 1.012 andA 102 atthe front andV roar inadevin the mannerpreviously described and the plates are attached to the aule of lili)effective in securing propulsione.

the vehicle by the sametype of strap connections` i r.lhe intermediatefriction roller 103 `has fixed to it a spur gear 104 meshing` with apinion 105 fixed on a transverse rspindle 106 `joru'nalledin the side.plates and mounting a Worm engaging a Worm gear 108 rotatable on a shaft109 fixed in a horizontal p-lane ina bearingy 110, carried by the casingbe lovv its bottom plate 111. ,y

Driven by the vvorm gear is. a cylinder 112 havingreunded ends and aforwardly extending hub 118 containing aspherical seat receptive of asphere 114 fixed on the end of yabar 115 adjustably threaded intok`Wheel 85 resting on supports *121 extending from the frontand bottom,and the rear or drive Wheel 34 rests in conc-ave faced rollers 122, 1o?)and 124, the latter driving a train of gears which actuate the`propeller at the rear ofthe boat in `a manner` which will beunderstoedfrom the foregoing.

Figure 110 illustrates a glidingand pro-v` pelling mechanism asappliedto vehicles of th@ automobile type, having a pair efdrivingWheels at theyrear, and dirigible Wheels 131 at the front.

Both pairs of Wheels are held in raised position, those atv the frontresting in pairs of opposed supports 132 connected by a partial band 13Sto which the Wheels are individually and securely clamped.

The lower ends of the supports are provided with pivoted links 134between Which are extended, send-elliptical springs 135, their centersbeing secured to uprights 13G mounted on the skid-like, gliding orrunner elements 137 at points slightlyin advance of their centers. f

lt may also be noted that the housing or casing'shoivn in Figure 9 maybe substituted'ivith equally effective results.

Thus each of the front Wheels are glidingly supported and free tobedirected by the steering mechanism of the vehicle `in the usualmanner.

The rear yWheels 130 rest in a rigid coni cave frame or casing 138, madesubstantially in the manner previously described and havingsuppertrollers 139 and 140 impingf A smaller rollcr141 a shaft 7150.

convenient manner. y v

rFhe outer plate element 178 of the casing ing against the Wheel atopposite points,` level with the axle.

is located below the Wheel ata vpoint rear- Ward of the center and afourth roller 142 is held between opposed links 143 and`144, on theupper surface of the Wheehthe links being pivoted on theaxis of therespective rollers 139 and 140, so that by releasing one of thesepivots, the casing elements can turn outwardly along` the hinge 138connecting at the bottom. f

The roller 200 actuated by a pinion fixed alongside the roller as in themanner before described drives a train of gears, as shown, terminatingin the Worm Whecl'145 on the 'shaft 146, this shaft being in a hori-Zontal plane and having fixed to it a pulley `147 driving a `belt 148 tocomn'iunicate rotary motion vto another pulley 149 fixedcn` The shaft1.50 is paralleltothe shaft 146 and is rotatably mounted in a? bearing151 raised from the relatively short ruimer 152.

The opposite, frontend 'ofthe shaft 150 enters axially into a .propeller153 having helical blades 154 in such manner as to rotate the same, andcontainsavheater 1534.l

The front end ofthe propeller is formed with a cup shaped cavityladaptedto `receive a Vplurality of `balls 156l acting as `anti-frictionelements for` the sphere157 formed on the end of a bar 158, screwthreaded, for adjustinenaat its" opposite,v end into a block 159 boltedto the front portion of the casing 138.

In the modified `form vof drive shown in Figures 15 and 16, a Wheel (notshown) rests on concave faced rollers and 171 rotatable in a. casingv172 securedy to the v axle or other partsl of the has a laterallyextending' 4hub 174 formed exteriorly as a scroll canrand circumjzuentthe cam is a cylindrical c: sing 175 supported `by arms A176 radiatingfrom the hub 177rotatable near the end ofthe axle 178.

The "extremev end of .the axle has fixed lo vehicle in any i it a pulley179 held together by the nut` `180, the pulley being driven by a belt orflattened, paddle shaped. extremities extensible through the slots 187.y

Collars191 areiixed to the'bars and abutting the collars and ring-,186are springs 192 encircling the bars, forcing them` radially inward oi'toward the fixed cam 17 4,

vehicle Wheel is 'llliei-mi-eiiends. of the bars are formed @into lforks l93in which. are freely.. rotatable rolls. 194i impinging againstythe cam. due'. to the effect; of the springs.y

In, operation,Y the vehicle` Wlieelfbeing vrevolved, rotarymotion.= istransmitted.' toth'ei casing 175. so asrto. rotate. it'aironnd the carni174, and as the latter is iixediin a definite position, the paddle-likeelements` 190 will beprojected to their fullestiextenti whendirectly'belonT` the aXle and gradually retraet-I ed. during thesucceeding.y quarten of casing. revolution.v

Thus thevehicle Willbe#urgediforiwardi in a forcible and practicalmanner over unstable surfaces, as snonrormud.

`While certain.- preferredl embodiments of. this device-have been shownand described, it' willy be-understood that-changes iii-the form,arrangements, proportions,` y'sizes and:` details thereof, may bermadeWithout:departe-l ing from the vscope of ,Y the invention as. vdefinedby the appended claims;

I-Iaving thus described myiinvention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let# ters Patent, is f n l. Propelling meansforfivheeledvehiclescomprising a casing;` for the"drivinggwheel, rollersin said casing frictionallyA` engaging;

the periphery of thewheel and rotated thereby, afgear train drivenby oneof said rollers,. a spindle extending, rearwardly; of said.y casingdriven by said gearY train, a helical.- proc peller connected to .saidspindle, and a,hous.

ingA over said propeller carried bysaid,v casing(y v.

2.; Propelling means forr Wheeledcv vehiclesy comprisinga. casing-'forthe drivingwheel, rollers in said casing friotionally:engagingA theperiphery of the Wheel andv rotated thereby, ay gear train` driven byonefof said rollers, a spindle extending rearwardly of said casingdriven by said `gear train, a.helical' propeller connected tov `saidspindle, a

frame supporting/the.rear end yof said propeller, saidframe. beingcarriedsbysaid ycasdv ing, and means forbrushing the blades ol saidpropeller as it rotates.

3. propelling means for Wheeled vehiclesl comprising a casing forthedriving Wheel, rollers yin said casing` frietionally engaging.A theperiphery of the Wheel and rotated(` thereby, a gear train driven by oneoffsaid.y rollers, a. spindle extending rearwardly of said casing drivensaid. gear. trai-n, a *helical propeller connected.. tosaid spindle, a.

yframe supporting the rear end ofv said-propeller, said framebeing-.carried .by saidfcasf ing, an endless conveyor mounted` in said?frame, and aA plurality of brush tufts lined. A on said conveyor, saidtufts entering vbetween thel blades. of said propeller whereby theconveyor is actuated. and the propeller cleansedlof accumulations.

Propelling. meansy forl Wheeled vehicles eompnising a casing.' for. theldriving Wheel,

rollers in said casing frictionally engagii'ig they periphery:v of" therWheel and: .rotated thereby', ai gea):Y train :driven byronev of saidrollersa. a.' spindlea cfm-ending:` rearwardly of saidfcasing drivenvbysaid xgearl train; a V:helicalfpropeller; a luniversal j oint" betiveen'saidv propellen :anzdsaidi shaft, .ahousingfor said. propellerfamovablebrushes in.v 'said housing,

connections between saidy housing t and r said casing, andfme'ansinsaidcOnnectiOn. permitting said housing and yattached parts to moververtical-ly;

5. Propellingmeans for Wheeledy vehicles comprising- 1 a. gliding shoeattached toy theI Wheelv axle, concavev facedv rollers in said shoeadapted to receiverthe vvheeha-geen` trainifdrivenV byiy one 'ofi saidrollers in frietional contaetwvith the Wheehandan in:- clinablefhelieahpropeller actuated by said gearitrain;l

6. In combinationfivithf afvehi'clehaving;

vehicle, said propeller being connectedf` to the' casing,la:housingeattached to said' easing at" therear thereof,- andl brfushAelements mountedtinl said housing,` actuated by said propellerl andadaptedjtd clean the bladesl thereof.

- 7.y Propelling means `for-vehicles comprisingfa-housing ,fixed-lontlievehicle, ay screw propellerjournaledinfsaid housing, a shaftl havingal:iiiiivei'sal-,joint1 operatively connecting with said propeller, agear onv the-- shaft, aiwormfin .engagement with; saidV gear, andifriction) meansl actuatedbyl thewvheel lof said vehicle-for drawingZsai-d Worm.

85 .Incombinationffwith a' vehicle havingfa traction Wheel, alongitudinally disposed screw propeller, means..v driven by fractionalcontacty with said Wheel yto transmit rotary movementl to`-thepropeller, and means. for supporting; said propeller at 'eachi en d'thereof rearwardof'said Wheel.y

9,A propelling;means for Wheeled vw l (Hl hicle's comprising. inrcombination, ai traction Wheelhavingga yieldableperiphery, a:po\vermeanstodri-ve saidwheel, a frame attachedf to .said WheeL and--solelyfsupported byv thesame,,afd-riiving` rollin friotionalengagement' withthe periphery of rthe tractionwvheel, anch a. propellenfinl-said framesconnected to the; driving roll; foin-actuation thereby` ,to move saidvehicle.

10; i Incombination, anvheeled vehicle hav# inga traction Wheel,Ia--self contained; power meansstoidr'ive said'wheel, arrunner frame:-connected to said Wheel, a pair of driving. rolls. in said y frame infrictional.y contact with the Wheel, .propelling means rotatable in saidframe to ,move thevehicle, and `flexible connections operativelyengaging betweenI said -rolls and the propelling` means.

11. In propelling.meansfor wheeled ve- CIK ery and a screw-propellingmechanism actuated by said traction wheel to move the vehicle slidinglyalong the road.

13. In a propelling device for wheeled vehicles having in combination afront wheel, a runner sled attached to said vehicle, a rear wheel, aremovable shoe attached to said rear wheel, a helical propeller mountedon said `shoe to contact with the surface on which the runner rests, andmeans actuated by said rear wheel to drive saidV propeller.

14. In propelling means for wheeled vehicles having a self containedpower plant, a pair of traction wheels having a y-ieldable periphery andactuated by said power plant,

a frame removably attached to thev wheels l of the vehicle, a pair ofrolls journaled in said frame and having frictional contact with theyieldable periphery of said vehicle wheels, and adapted to carry theweight of the rear part of the vehicle, and a propeller actuated by saidrolls adapted to propel thedriven by the same, mechanism actuated bysaid traction wheels to eflect a bodily movement of the vehicle and saidmechanism including a frame, movable elements in the frame and actuatedby the traction Wheels of the vehicle, a worm and gear in operativeconnection with the elementsand said elements bearing all the weight ofthe rear part of the vehicle.

16. In a vehicle propelling device, coinprising alprime mover, a casing,a shaft cX- teiiding rearwardly of the same, a helical propellerconnected to said shaft, shock absorbing means mounted in the casing forcompensating the upy and down movement of the propeller, and means todrive the same. p n y 17. In a sled vehicle propelling device comprisinga sled runner, a prime mover mounted on said runner, ashaft extendingrearwardly of the same, means to drive the shaft, a helicalpropellermounted on the shaft, and a spring between said runner and propeller forcompensating up and down movement of the same.

n 18. In a sled vehicle propelling device vvcomprising a sledrunner,ashaft extending rearwardly of the same, means to drive the shaft, ahelical propeller mounted on `the shaft, and a spring between the sledrunner and propeller to press the 'same to the i JOHN HOLTZMAN,v

